Jul. 10, 2012

Written by

Lindsay Marshall

Contributing Writer

If You Go

Who: Beaver Nelson

Where: Mockingbird Café, 1225 North Monroe Street

When: Wednesday, July 11, at 8:00 p.m.

Admission: Free

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Texas native and longtime musician, Beaver Nelson, has just released his seventh album, Macro/Micro, and will play at Mockingbird Café on Wednesday, July 11. This is no ordinary tour. Rather than simply strumming his guitar and singing, he will show a film created with the help of filmmaker, Stephen Henderson, that will play while Nelson performs.

“I had too many musical elements that were important to a record, so I couldn’t just play with a guitar,” said Nelson. “We talked about making a couple videos, and then decided to make a whole film. It was a necessity.”

His ten-show tour started in Texas right after the release, but the stretch of it is just beginning. This will be Nelson's first performance in Tallahassee. He played in Jacksonville and Pensacola more than fifteen years ago, and is looking forward to appearing in Florida again.

“I haven’t toured in five years,” said Nelson. “And I haven’t played Florida as much as I’d like to. I’m playing a lot of places I haven’t played before or played sparsely. It’s exciting.”

Guests will hear Macro/Micro in its entirety at the show, and because of his multifaceted performance, there is a lot of equipment involved.

“This is going to be a very different experience for me, especially playing solo,” he said. “There’s a projector, screen, and several guitars. I’ve got more stuff to plug in than I ever thought I’d have to plug in, but it’s exciting. This isn’t something everyone sees.”

Nelson has been in the music scene since Rolling Stone called him a songwriting prodigy at the age of 18. He released his first album, Last Hurrah, in 1998, and has put out six since, including Macro/Micro, released this past June.

To Nelson, Macro/Micro signifies the pull of life.

"It's about constantly trying to balance and see things from the outside and the inside, and toggle from both perspectives, trying to see yourself from the outside and humanize everyone around you,” said Nelson.

Nelson enjoys playing small venues like Mockingbird, because he can feel the audience's reactions, whereas at large venues, he can’t experience the same level of intimacy.

“It will be a different show," said Nelson. "It won’t be a show they have ever seen before. I hope people give it a chance.”